Public Relations (PR) Manager
Salary

Public Relations Managers in the United States take home approximately $59K per year on average. Total cash compensation to Public Relations Managers ranges from $37K on the lower end to $96K on the higher end; the final number includes potential for approximately $11K each from bonuses and profit sharing in exceptional cases. Geography and years of experience each impact pay for this group, with the former having the largest influence. Medical benefits are awarded to a large number, and a fair number earn dental coverage. Men are in the minority of survey respondents, with female Public Relations Managers making up 76 percent. Most Public Relations Managers report high levels of job satisfaction. The information for this snapshot was generated by responses to the PayScale salary survey.

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

Job Description for Public Relations (PR) Manager

The public relations manager is the liaison between an organization and the outside world. Specific areas of concentration are community relations, media relations, contact with the investment community, and how the organization communicates internally. Public relations managers may oversee a marketing plan and budget, coordinate input from the outside, hire help as needed, and field media questions and interviews. Public relations managers must review and coordinate all marketing programs to make sure they promote the organization's intended point of view.

Public relations managers are needed in all types or organizations, including public and private companies, non-profit entities, and government. Their overall goal is to promote a unified and positive external image.

A public relations manager must possess organizational skills, strong interpersonal skills, comfort with public speaking, and good communication strategies. Public relations manager typically poses an advanced degree and need to possess strong knowledge of their field and organization.

Public Relations (PR) Manager Tasks

Plan special events, conferences and parties.

Coordinate initiatives with marketing, community and production.

Outreach to press.

Create podcasts, blogs and represent the company.

Create and release publications for the press.

Common Career Paths for Public Relations (PR) Manager

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Public Relations Managers' salaries may rise greatly for those who assume a higher-end position such as a VP of Public Relations & Corporate Communications. The average VP of Public Relations & Corporate Communications bring home $131K per year. A common career progression for a Public Relations Manager is to become a Public Relations Director or a Communications Director. Compared to Public Relations Managers, the first group earns $7K more on average, and the second group earns $3K more.

Public Relations (PR) Manager Job Listings

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Popular Skills for Public Relations (PR) Manager

This chart shows the most popular skills for this job and what effect each skill has on pay.

Public Relations Managers seem to require a number of specific skills. Most notably, skills in Corporate Communications, Media / Public Relations, Marketing Communications, and Social Media Marketing are correlated to pay that is above average. Those listing Client Interaction as a skill should be prepared for drastically lower pay. Event Planning and Microsoft Office also typically command lower compensation. For most people, competency in Marketing Communications indicates knowledge of Social Media Marketing.

Pay by Experience Level for Public Relations (PR) Manager

Median of all compensation (including tips, bonus, and overtime) by years of experience.

For many Public Relations Managers, experience and pay levels seem to be correlated; more years in the business generally lead to more money. The average beginner in this position makes around $47K, but folks who have been around for five to 10 years see a markedly higher median salary of $63K. Public Relations Managers with one to two decades of relevant experience report an average salary of approximately $73K. Public Relations Managers who surpass 20 years on the job report pay that isn't as high as one would expect; the median compensation for this crowd sits around $76K.

Pay Difference by Location

Minneapolis offers some of the highest pay in the country for Public Relations Managers, 35 percent above the national average. Public Relations Managers will also find cushy salaries in San Francisco (+32 percent), Boston (+27 percent), Washington (+21 percent), and Los Angeles (+18 percent). One of the biggest compensable factors for Public Relations Managers is geography, with workers in St. Louis earning a whopping 32 percent below the national average. Below-median salaries also turn up in Houston and Atlanta (11 percent lower and 8 percent lower, respectively).